The number of street robberies recorded last year showed a marked increase from previous years, with mobile phones and tablet devices such as the iPhone 5 being high on the list of items stolen, new figures have found.
Mobile phones made up an average of 70 per cent of all goods stolen, with 9,751 phone crime offences lodged in the capital last month alone.
During the months of April and September last year, over 56,000 mobile phones were reported stolen in London, equating to 157 mobiles. High on the hitlist for budding criminals was Apple device owners with a hefty 79 iPhones pinched every day.
Traditionally January sees the highest rise in gadget theft as criminals are looking to swipe the latest tech after the Christmas period. In December 2010 reported offences stood at 8,078, rising to 8,613 by the end of January 2011.
In an effort to tackle the rise in street robberies, the Metropolitan Police (MPS) has launched an advertising campaign to remind the public to be aware of when and where they chose to display their valuables.
Radio ads and posters have been placed in targeted locations at stations, phone booths and online highlighting the importance of protecting your phone and other expensive items.
Detective Chief Superintendent Simon Letchford, Territorial Policing crime lead at the MPS said: “We’re trying to make people think differently with this campaign – having your personal possessions on show gives robbers a chance to make easy money.”
The most common victims tend to be young professionals aged between 20 and 30, enjoying the capital’s social scene at entertainment spots or other public places.
“Just being conscious of where you are and being careful about when you display your valuable can help you avoid being targeted”, added Detective Chief Superintendent Letchford.
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Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
